Gastro Goofs

Here’s something you probably didn’t know about the month of March:  It’s National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

See, I told you probably didn’t know it.

In all seriousness, colorectal cancer affects 149,000 every year, killing 50,000 every year (2008 estimate).  It is the third leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States, and it is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer.

While these numbers seem high, the incidence rate of colorectal cancers has dropped dramatically since 1998.  Some attribute the decline to improved treatments, like anti-inflammatory drugs. But I tend to believe it’s thanks to improved detection capabilities, such as the colonoscopy.

Colonoscopies are gastroenterologists’ window to your intestinal health.  During a colonoscopy, gastroenterologists use a tube with a tiny camera attached to it that examines the inner lining of your intestines.  They can then detect any abnormalities or polyps in your colon, and take any biopsies that may require additional testing.

The overwhelming majority of polyps detected turn out to be benign, but the test ensures that you’re in the clear.

Or does it?  Because according to a study published in the Journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, colonoscopies aren’t exactly foolproof.

They discovered this after reviewing the health records of approximately 110,500 older Canadians (ages 50-80), all of whom received a clean bill of health after receiving their colonoscopy.

But when they looked at their health records 15 years after that initial colonoscopy, 15 percent of them were eventually diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

What really spoke volumes to the researchers, though, was that family physicians or internists, not gastroenterologists, examined a majority of the 1,596 individuals eventually diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Translation: Whether or not someone specializes in gastroenterology most definitely matters when you get your colonoscopy.

The “So What?” element of this article is simple:  Seek out a licensed and trained gastroenterologist for your colonoscopy.  A colonoscopy, in and of itself, is not foolproof.  Because a living breathing person is assessing the results of your colonoscopy, it’s subject to human error.  Sure, a gastroenterologist can make a mistake in missing a malignant tumor, but it’s not as likely, simply because they are subject to more rigorous training requirements in the certification process.

But gastroenterologists can likely detect other things that a family physician may not detect, like ulcerative colitis, for instance.

Ulcerative colitis is nowhere near as dangerous or life threatening as colorectal cancer, but the symptoms can be severe.  Besides cramping, gas and bloating, it often includes diarrhea and bleeding.  This excessive loss of fluid can lead to serous depletion of vital nutrients.

A colonoscopy from a trained gastroenterologist will help determine this, but there are things you can do on your own to replace those vital nutrients your body may have lost.

The most important thing you’ll likely need is an iron replacement.  Iron is usually the mineral that’s most depleted in people with irritable bowel syndrome, so this is something you should definitely be taking (Note:  Only take supplemental iron if directed by a physician, as you can get too much iron).

Vitamin B complex with folic acid is another important nutrient for people with ulcerative colitis.  B vitamins help convert food into energy, but research suggests it’s beneficial for the bowels because it aids in digestion and may protect against colon cancer.

Finally, there’s L-glutamine.  L-glutamine is an amino acid that the gastrointestinal tract eats up; enterocytes, which are cells that line the inside of the intestines, use l-glutamine as its principle fuel source.  Among other functions, l-glutamine promotes wound healing, and when you have ulcerative colitis, your colon is, in effect, wounded.  L-glutamine can help expedite the healing process.

Sources
cancer.org
sciencedaily.com
chelationtherapyonline.com
foxnews.com
colitis.emedtv.com
Balch, Phyllis A. “Prescription for Nutritional Healing.” 4th Edition. 2006. Avery: New York